the entrance hall, 36 by 21 feet; the central hall, 64 by 24 feet; the library, 36 by 64 feet; the lecture room, 34 by 50 feet. The five exhibition halls range in size from 26 by 14 to 34 by 21 feet. The total number of square feet of floor space, exclusive of elevators, doorways, and hallways, is 39,874. This includes exhibition space, amounting to 14,571 square feet, lecture and entertainment space of 7,982, and 14,786 square feet for administrative purposes. Every modern convenience and facility will be provided. This building for the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council is to be the focus of science in America and will be looked upon by our fellow citizens and the world at large as emblematic of all the creative mind will be able to do to bring about a better existence for the future people of the world, for it is to their enlightenment and advancement that it is dedicated. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. MEETINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY. AUTUMN MEETING. The autumn meeting of the academy was held at the University of Chicago, November 14, 15, and 16, 1921. BUSINESS SESSION. Twenty-eight members responded to roll call, as follows: Announcement was made of the following deaths and assignments For preparation of biographical memoirs of deceased members: To Theodore Lyman, the biography of E. B. Rosa, elected 1913, died May 17, 1921. To F. M. Chapman, the biography of J. A. Allen, elected 1876, lied August 29, 1921. To Liberty H. Bailey, the biography of H. P. Armsby, elected 920, died October 19, 1921. The apointment of the following delegates was announced: Arthur L. Day to the inauguration of James Rowland Angell as resident of Yale University, June 22, 1921. Henry Prentiss Armsby to the inauguration of President Thomas, f Pennsylvania State College, October 1, 1921. J. Walter Fewkes to the inauguration of Julian Alvin Carroll handler as president of William and Mary College, October 19, 1921. H. H. Donaldson to the inauguration of Frank Aydelotte as presient of Swarthmore College, October 22, 1921. The receipt was announced of the following gifts: From the University of Virginia, a bronze medal in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of its foundation. From the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences. Arts, and Letters, a bronze medallion in commemoration of its semicentennial anniversary. From the trustees of the William Ellery Hale Fund, the sum of $1,000 for the support of the Proceedings. TRUST FUNDS. On account of trust funds, the following receipts were announced: From the Pennsylvania Co. for Insurances on Lives and Granting Annuities, on account of the Joseph Henry Fund: Principal... $17, 539. 57 1, 311. 41 $18,850.98 From the executors of the estate of Mary Anna Palmer Draper, on account of the Billings Fund: Principal, $3,750; making a total of $19,250. NEW BUILDING. The following report was presented by the joint committee on the building of the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council: Blue-print plans of the new building for the National Academy and the Nationa Research Council from the architect, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, were shown to the academy and met with approval. It was stated that work on these plans would be completed within a very short time, when contracts for the building would be drawn. RESEARCH FUNDS. J. LAWRENCE SMITH FUND. The following report from the committee on the J. Lawrence Smith Fund was presented: The committee of the academy on the J. Lawrence Smith Fund recommends ths: the gold medal provided for by this fund be awarded at the annual meeting in Apri 1922, to Dr. George Perkins Merrill, United States National Museum, for his important contributions to knowledge concerning the character of meteorites. Doctor Merrill's investigations have extended over many years, and the list of his published papers embraces more than 50 titles. His work has been notable for its scope and thoroughness and the philosophical standpoint from which it has been conducted. His object has been to contribute toward the solution of the problem of the origin and significance of these extraterrestrial bodies. Doctor Merrill's researches have been concerned with the mineral, chemical, and textural characters of both metallic and stony meteorites and with the interpretation of these properties. It is the opinion of the committee that Doctor Merrill is to-day the most eminent investigator of meteorites in the world and richly deserves the honor recommended. Many of his more recent and specially valuable results have been secured with the aid of grants from the J. Lawrence Smith fund, which have been judiciously expended. The deed of gift of the J. Lawrence Smith fund indicates that the medal award stood very prominently in the donor's mind. In fact, it has been awarded but once, namely, in 1888 to H. A. Newton, of the Yale observatory, "for observations of the orbits of meteorites." The committee recommends that a grant of $500 be made to Dr. George P. Merrill, United States National Museum, from the accumulated income of the J. Lawrence Smith fund, in aid of further investigations on the character of meteorites. The committee feels that the excellent use made of previous grants is ample assurance that this grant will be well spent. No other application for a grant is before the committee. It is respectfully requested that the academy take action on both of the above recommendations. For the committee. WHITMAN CROSS, Chairman. Received. Award of medal and grant approved. HENRY DRAPER FUND. The following report was presented from the committee on the Henry Draper fund: The Henry Draper committee recommends that the Henry Draper gold medal of the academy be awarded to Prof. Henry Norris Russell at the next stated meeting of the academy. The chief reason for the award lies in the remarkably valuable contributions which Professor Russell has made to our knowledge of the processes of stellar evolution and the underlying causes therefor. Upon receipt of information that the recommendation of the committee has been confirmed by the council, a fuller statement of reasons governing the award will be supplied for use at the next stated meeting and for publication in the minutes thereof. Recommendation approved. WATSON FUND. W. W. CAMPBELL, Chairman. The following report from the trustees of the James Craig Watson fund was presented: The trustees of the James C. Watson fund respectfully recommend that the following grants be authorized: Five hundred dollars to Dr. William Bowie, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, for the continuation of observations of the variation of latitude at the international latitude observatory at Ukiah, Calif. Five hundred dollars to the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, Calif., as a contribution to the sum of $4,000 required for a Ross photographic zenith telescope for a study of latitude variations under the direction of W. W. Campbell in connection with an astronomical, geodetic, seismological, and geological research project concerning the northerly movement of a section of the Pacific coast recently discovered by Prof. A. C. Lawson, of the University of California. A. O. LEUSCHNER, Chairman. GEORGE C. COMSTOCK. Grants approved. 26865°-S. Doc. 285, 67-4- 2 JOSEPH HENRY FUND. The committee on the Joseph Henry fund presented the following recommendations: The committee on the Henry fund desires to submit for the approval of the academy the following general statement regarding its proposed policy in the administration of this fund: The terms of the deed of gift provide that after the death of the last survivor of the immediate family of Professor Henry the capital sum shall be transferred to the National Academy of Sciences, to be forever held in trust, and the income from which shall be from time to time applied to assist "meritorious investigations in natural science, especially in the direction of original research." Under these terms there is imposed no limitation regarding the field of science in which an award may be made. Since, however, this fund in its original inception was organized during Professor Henry's lifetime for the purpose of enabling him the better to carry on his scientific work, and since it now stands, in some measure, as a monument to his name and to his contributions to science, it would seem not improper that, among projects of equal merit otherwise, some preference should be shown to those which may lie nearer to the fields of work with which Professor Henry's name is usually associated. The committee does not, however, desire to impose in advance any specific limitation or restriction, and it will therefore be prepared to consider applications from all fields of natural science. Approved. W. F. DURAND, Chairman. The committee on the Henry fund desires further to recommend as follows: That, of the amount of interest thus far received and amounting to $1,311.41, the sum of $388.32 be transferred to the capital account, thus bringing the present valustion of the fund ($39,611.68) up to the original face value of $40,000. Transfer approved. W. F. DURAND, Chairman. In accordance with application, a copy of which is attached hereto, the committee of the Henry fund desires to recommend for the approval of the academy: Grant No. 1. To the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, Calif., Dr. W. W. Campbell, director, the sum of $500, as a contribution toward the sum of $4,000 required for a Ross photographic zenith telescope for latitude variation study. W. F. DURAND, Chairman. Grant approved. METRIC SYSTEM. A communication from Senator E. F. Ladd requesting a declaration of the opinion of the academy on the adoption of the metric system as provided for in bill S. 2267, introduced by him in the Senate under date of July 18, 1921, was read before the academy. together with the bill, and after discussion the matter was referred to the committee on weights, measures, and coinage, with power to act through the president of the academy. The text of the bill is as follows: A BILL To fix the metric system of weights and measures as the single standard of weights and measure for certain uses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Americs in Congress assembled, That from and after ten years from the date of passage and |